Chad: "I Grew Up Today"

[HoosierCat]

Note from the "Football Night in America" show (which sucks but it's all there is). They asked Chad about the conversation between him and Palmer, and what Palmer had said was that they neeed him in this game, even if he didn't catch anything. Chad's comment was to the effect that he "grew up today," in that he realized that even if he didn't have big numbers, if his presence allowed guys like TJ to have 100 yard days, then he had done his job.

He is, of course, absolutely right. And that's good to hear.

[Wisk]

Note from the "Football Night in America" show (which sucks but it's all there is). They asked Chad about the conversation between him and Palmer, and what Palmer had said was that they neeed him in this game, even if he didn't catch anything. Chad's comment was to the effect that he "grew up today," in that he realized that even if he didn't have big numbers, if his presence allowed guys like TJ to have 100 yard days, then he had done his job.

He is, of course, absolutely right. And that's good to hear.

Refreshing response from Chad!

This WAS a team win....our worst performance of the year defeated their BEST performance of the year!

Who Dey!

[membengal]

If CJ has finally come to accept this, the Bengals are damn near unstoppable. If teams keep scheming to take him away like that, Housh and Henry will slaughter opponents. Simply slaughter them.

[Kazkal]

Aye hes not gonna have big game everyday but when hes not his teammates are.

[HoosierCat]

If CJ has finally come to accept this, the Bengals are damn near unstoppable. If teams keep scheming to take him away like that, Housh and Henry will slaughter opponents. Simply slaughter them.

Yup. 100% agree. Its always nic to have those 1,500 yard seasons, but if it's that or 150 yards and a SB ring...? Hey...worse stuff has hapened to people, y'know?

And of course, the reality is that 4, 5, 6 games in, if TJ and henry are on the way to 1,000+ yard seasons, well, gues what? Coverage shifts and suddenly 85 is geting covered by Joe Schmo...and look out!

[aaronburr]

It's good to hear Chad say this, but he looked pretty withdrawn on the sidelines --- sitting alone on the bench, towel over his head. He might be saying he's grown up, but he's not quite showing it yet.

Maybe it's just because he's Chad, but I didn't see the same TV coverage of Hines Ward, who had similar stats for the day.

[PMThor]

It's good to hear Chad say this, but he looked pretty withdrawn on the sidelines --- sitting alone on the bench, towel over his head. He might be saying he's grown up, but he's not quite showing it yet.

Maybe it's just because he's Chad, but I didn't see the same TV coverage of Hines Ward, who had similar stats for the day.

You didn't see Hinds? He was kicking the Bengal in the groin who leveled him across the middle at the end of the game. Pure class.

[HoosierCat]

It's good to hear Chad say this, but he looked pretty withdrawn on the sidelines --- sitting alone on the bench, towel over his head. He might be saying he's grown up, but he's not quite showing it yet.

Big changes in your worldview never come all at once. Takes time.

FWIW, not that I think Chad reads boards like this, but from a big Bengals fan to him: I get it. A lot of us get it. And we aren't gonna stop lovin' every minute of your play even if all you do is decoy the rest of the world. He who laughs last laughs best, baby, and you keep doing what you are doing and this team will be laughing all the way to the SB.

[duus]

It's good to hear Chad say this, but he looked pretty withdrawn on the sidelines --- sitting alone on the bench, towel over his head. He might be saying he's grown up, but he's not quite showing it yet.

Big changes in your worldview never come all at once. Takes time.

FWIW, not that I think Chad reads boards like this, but from a big Bengals fan to him: I get it. A lot of us get it. And we aren't gonna stop lovin' every minute of your play even if all you do is decoy the rest of the world. He who laughs last laughs best, baby, and you keep doing what you are doing and this team will be laughing all the way to the SB.

That's a great point. Reminds me that there is a chatroom coming this week with Chad. Could there be a better opportunity to voice approval of 'whatever it takes to win'? That would be the best opportunity to get your message out there ... I agree!

[aaronburr]

It's good to hear Chad say this, but he looked pretty withdrawn on the sidelines --- sitting alone on the bench, towel over his head. He might be saying he's grown up, but he's not quite showing it yet.

Maybe it's just because he's Chad, but I didn't see the same TV coverage of Hines Ward, who had similar stats for the day.

You didn't see Hinds? He was kicking the Bengal in the groin who leveled him across the middle at the end of the game. Pure class.

I saw Hines acting up on the field (not unusual), but I didn't see him moping on the sidelines. If you didn't know any better, you'd think Chad's team was the one that was losing at home.

[aaronburr]

I just read in John Clayton's article that Chad had to take an IV during halftime...so he may have been more under-the-weather than we knew. If so, that might explain his demeanor on the sidelines, so I stand corrected.

[duus]

I just read in John Clayton's article that Chad had to take an IV during halftime...so he may have been more under-the-weather than we knew. If so, that might explain his demeanor on the sidelines, so I stand corrected.

... and if Chad was 'under the weather', yet gutted it out to be the decoy nonetheless ... well ... that makes for one seriously worthy applause.

[ArmyBengal]

Nice to "hear" Chad say this, but I would like to see him not express it so much on the field and sideline. I know this is an emotional game for the most part, but if you are going to talk it, walk it. He does that with his play, but when it comes to keeping his composure, it might just brief well at this point, being a work in progress.

Still nice to hear and it will be this way all season long !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Coy Bacon & Egg]

I like to apply the line that I believe first came out of Belichick ... You like to have Pro Bowl players, but it's more about developing Super Bowl players on your roster. Obviously one doesn't preclude the other, but I think we're seeing ML developing the Super Bowl, not the Pro Bowl, culture on his team, and I think we're seeing his players increasingly "get it."

It's great to see this feeling seep into the team's psyche and the players policing and encouraging it in each other. That is the greatest testament to what ML has accomplished. Remember, he's only three games into his fourth year with this franchise.

[AGrizzlyBaer]

I just read in John Clayton's article that Chad had to take an IV during halftime...so he may have been more under-the-weather than we knew. If so, that might explain his demeanor on the sidelines, so I stand corrected.

he does that surprisingly often the iv that is ... maybe if he quit with all the mcdonalds he wouldnt be dehydrated

[HoosierCat]

Nice to "hear" Chad say this, but I would like to see him not express it so much on the field and sideline. I know this is an emotional game for the most part, but if you are going to talk it, walk it. He does that with his play, but when it comes to keeping his composure, it might just brief well at this point, being a work in progress.

I hear ya. And I'm sure Marvin "sees better than he hears," ya know? But still, I think it's a step forward. I think its tough for NFL athletes because this sport is so team-oriented. You can't be Tiger Woods or Derek Jeter or Michael Jordan in football, it just isn't that kind of game. Its more like, well, the army. Not in the "risk to your life" level, obviously, but in the "a platoon is only as good as its weakest link" concept. And that has to be tough for a guy like Chad to really internalize. The fact he appears to be dealing with it is a good sign.

[ArmyBengal]

Agree that it's good to see !!!

WHODEY !!!

[Kazkal]

It's good to hear Chad say this, but he looked pretty withdrawn on the sidelines --- sitting alone on the bench, towel over his head. He might be saying he's grown up, but he's not quite showing it yet.

Maybe it's just because he's Chad, but I didn't see the same TV coverage of Hines Ward, who had similar stats for the day.

mybe the injury from last week?

[Kazkal]

Not saying anyone is here but I love how everyone is rdy to sellout when they forget how much he means to this team,you think if we diden't have Chad in there TJ would have had game he did without chad drawing the most attention.

[ArmyBengal]

You think if we diden't have Chad in there TJ would have had game he did without chad drawing the most attention.

Nope, as a matter of fact, I think that is exactly what everyone IS saying and not only TJ, but Henry, or anyone else for that matter would gain the same benefit when Chad is on the field.

Just saying if he losses a little bit of the "I want to put on a show" and starts believing in the "team win" concept, this offense will be even stronger and that my friend is SCARY !!!

WHODEY !!!

[derekshank]

We'll see. Maybe I'm a bit over-critical, but it seems like it's a lot easier to say this kind of thing after a win.

I'd like to hear what he says if we lose a game when he plays the role of the decoy.

[Kazkal]

I think bengals.com had good responses for one thing about chad having TJ,henry,rudi and carson on chads corner giving em all props and saying he knows hes still helping the team when hes not getting the ball....

Other things to look at is he was dehydrated and was getting a IV,they also flashed him with a towel over his head when we were losing (what do you expect him to be doing riverdance? theres also the fact of his injury could have been worse then everyone thought and they wanted to take it easy on chad...

People are so quick to judge chad without facts.

[agreen_112]

We'll see. Maybe I'm a bit over-critical, but it seems like it's a lot easier to say this kind of thing after a win.

I'd like to hear what he says if we lose a game when he plays the role of the decoy.

I agree with you derek. That was the only thing that pissed me off about yesterday's game. Watching Chad sitting over on the bench pouting when Pittsburgh was driving down the field in the last minutes of the game. He should've been up on his feet rooting for the defense to make a big stop! I love Chad, but he looked like a baby. Not the Chad that I'm used to seeing out there pumping everyone up.

[CBin2k7]

We'll see. Maybe I'm a bit over-critical, but it seems like it's a lot easier to say this kind of thing after a win.

I'd like to hear what he says if we lose a game when he plays the role of the decoy.

I agree with you derek. That was the only thing that pissed me off about yesterday's game. Watching Chad sitting over on the bench pouting when Pittsburgh was driving down the field in the last minutes of the game. He should've been up on his feet rooting for the defense to make a big stop! I love Chad, but he looked like a baby. Not the Chad that I'm used to seeing out there pumping everyone up.

How do you know that Chad was pouting, because he looked like he was pouting? Maybe he was sick and not feeling very well.

And I would put good money that Chad would complain if he doesn't get the ball and the Bengals lose, because he feels that he can help the team win. Most players feel that way.

[Bobcat Bengal]

We'll see. Maybe I'm a bit over-critical, but it seems like it's a lot easier to say this kind of thing after a win.

I'd like to hear what he says if we lose a game when he plays the role of the decoy.

I agree with you derek. That was the only thing that pissed me off about yesterday's game. Watching Chad sitting over on the bench pouting when Pittsburgh was driving down the field in the last minutes of the game. He should've been up on his feet rooting for the defense to make a big stop! I love Chad, but he looked like a baby. Not the Chad that I'm used to seeing out there pumping everyone up.

How do you know that Chad was pouting, because he looked like he was pouting? Maybe he was sick and not feeling very well.

And I would put good money that Chad would complain if he doesn't get the ball and the Bengals lose, because he feels that he can help the team win. Most players feel that way.

Yeah, that's typical of most star-athletes.

They'll most like stfu if the team gets a W, but if the team loses and they didn't get 'theirs'............